Owens gets win as PawSox extend wildcard lead

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Pawtucket’s offense erupted for three separate three-run innings while starter Henry Owens settled down to earn the win after allowing three first-inning runs as the PawSox topped the Buffalo Bisons, 9-3, Tuesday night at Coca-Cola F

Comment

By
Special to The Journal
Posted Aug. 26, 2014 @ 9:02 pm

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Pawtucket’s offense erupted for three separate three-run innings while starter Henry Owens settled down to earn the win after allowing three first-inning runs as the PawSox topped the Buffalo Bisons, 9-3, Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Field to earn a split of the four-game series.

The PawSox rallied for three two-out runs in the second, then three more two-out runs in the seventh. Bryce Brentz snapped a 3-3 tie with a three-run blast with no outs in the fifth. Owens (2-1) allowed hits to four of the first five batters he faced and fell behind 3-0, but then pitched scoreless ball for the remainder of his outing and garnered eight punchouts.

With the win, Pawtucket moved two games in front of the Bisons and the idle Rochester Red Wings in the International League wildcard standings with six games remaining in the regular season. Buffalo had won the first two games of the series to move into a wildcard tie with the PawSox.

After Buffalo took a 3-0 lead in the first, the PawSox rallied for three consecutive two-out doubles in the second against Bisons starter Daniel Norris (3-1) to tie the score. Garin Cecchini, Deven Marrero and Dan Butler each collected an RBI two-base hit as part of a five-hit inning.

Brentz clubbed his go-ahead blast to left center against Norris in the fifth following a leadoff walk by Justin Henry and a double from Alex Hassan. The homer chased Norris from the game after four-plus innings in which the southpaw allowed six runs on eight hits. He had only allowed two runs in 16 2/3 innings over his first three Triple-A starts prior to Tuesday.

The PawSox added three more tallies against reliever Kyle Drabek in the seventh, as the squad collected five straight hits after the first two men were retired in the frame. Butler (RBI single), Jackie Bradley Jr. (RBI double) and Henry (RBI single) each drove in runs during the rally.

Owens lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and four walks while throwing 105 pitches. Dalier Hinojosa relieved the lefty in the seventh with one out and retired eight of the nine batters he faced to finish the victory with 2 2/3 scoreless innings.